Guildford Council picks partner for £86m new neighbourhood

Guildford Borough Council has chosen Wates Group to develop a new neighbourhood close to the centre of the Surrey town. The £86m Guildford Park Road scheme on the site of a former car park comprises 248 homes, including 98 for affordable rent and shared ownership. Wates will deliver a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, with some townhouses. The council is committing up to £39.7m from the housing revenue account to buy the affordable housing, which will be added to the 5,000 council homes it already owns and manages. The new neighbourhood will be a 12-minute walk to the town centre via a pedestrian bridge, and an eight-minute walk to Guildford train station. It will be designed to meet and exceed the Future Homes Standard, achieving a 90% reduction in carbon emissions. Lee Bushell, regional director at Wates, said: “The development exemplifies our commitment to creating communities and providing homes in prime locations. Additionally, as a Surrey-headquartered business, it has been rewarding to support the local community and uplift the Guildford economy.” Julia McShane, leader of the council and lead councillor for housing, added: “This new neighbourhood will include a mix of new council homes for rent and affordable homes to buy. We will be focusing on creating a development where people are proud to live.”